For any rookie hoping to realize his big-league dreams, making an NHL team is like trying to hop on a fast-moving train.

For Isaac Howard and Matt Savoie, two high-end prospects the Edmonton Oilers hope can bring some much-needed youth to the lineup, it’ll be more like trying to jump on one of those Japanese bullet trains going full speed.

This isn’t a rebuilding team they’re trying to crack. They won’t have a year or two to work through their growing pains before their team is ready to push for a playoff spot.

The Oilers are a contender in Win Now mode and anything short of a Stanley Cup will be considered failure. If the 21-year-old forwards are going to be full time Oilers they’ll have to hit the ground running.

And that’s fine by them. They both realize the opportunity that’s in

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